Dec. 11, 2017, Los Angeles, CA — Following the Hollywood Foreign Press Association’s release of the Golden Globe nominations, the Pop Culture Collaborative is drawing attention to the lack of representation amongst this year’s nominees, and pressing for more inclusion and recognition. Pop Culture Collaborative Executive Director Bridgit Antoinette Evans and Strategy Director Tracy Van Slyke issued the following statement:

“We are incredibly disappointed that this year’s Golden Globes nominations feel less like progress, and more like a predictable reflection of Hollywood’s history and habit of excluding people of color and women from the pop culture landscape. The stories we tell and choose to honor don’t only entertain us, they influence how millions of Americans see themselves and the world around them. Artists in the industry, and the audiences they speak to, are demanding equity, respect, and freedom from harassment and violence, and this includes ensuring the recognition of movies and TV that reflect an inclusive society. Today, however, we once again see nominations dominated by projects that showcase white- and male-centered perspectives, undermining authenticity and justice within the entertainment community.

We congratulate ‘Master of None,’Coco,’ ‘Black-ish,’ ‚ÄòGet Out,’ as well as Issa Rae, Denzel Washington, Sterling K. Brown and other artists for their powerful and much-needed storytelling. However, directors like Dee Rees (‚ÄòMudbound’), Jordan Peele (‚ÄòGet Out’), and Greta Gerwig (‚ÄòLadybird’) are notably absent, along with Tiffany Haddish (‚ÄòGirls Trip’) and Tracee Ellis Ross (‚ÄòBlack’ish’), actors who have been praised for advancing award-worthy portrayals and complex narratives on screen. At a time when people of color, women and LGBTQ people–in the entertainment industry and every sector–are driving a cultural and political revolution, the Hollywood Foreign Press Association and other awards programs have the opportunity and responsibility to advance storytellers and their stories that reflect the true landscape of America and showcase what an inclusive future can look like. ”

About Pop Culture Collaborative:

The Pop Culture Collaborative is a new fund helping artists, organizations and companies leverage the reach and power of pop culture to drive authentic, just narratives about people of color, immigrants, refugees and Muslims. Through grants and partnerships, the Collaborative helps shift how mass audiences understand the past, grasp the present, and imagine an inclusive future.

For press inquiries please reach out to popcollab@ellecomm.com